Monday, 25 February 2013

Holly James and Anna Salmane

March 13th to March 23rd 2013

“Pert” and “Simple” are two adjectives that James and Salmane most
frequently use when discussing art. However, the artists cannot agree
whether these terms should be ascribed to the aesthetics of their work,
the conceptual aspects of their practice, or their personal beliefs as
to what art in general should be; the exhibition visitors are invited to
judge for themselves.

Fluorescent Weaving by Holly James

Events
Saturday 16th March, 14:00: Both artists will be leading a tour of their
exhibition and will be on hand to discuss their practice and answer any
questions you might have about their work.

Wednesday, 6 February 2013

Effy Harle, Beth Kettel and Chris Evitts

February 27th to March 2nd 2013

Surface Gallery presents The Community…that never comes, a durational performance piece generated by Effy Harle, with the collective effort of participants including – among other NTU Fine Art students – Beth Kettel and Chris Evitts.

Their assembly ventures into landscapes of uncertainty without the alluring shiny armoury of visual aesthetics. Deprived of the linguistic arsenal of their cant, both performer and viewer stand unarmed, bare to the void of the elevated gallery space.

Exploiting the limits of human effort we explore the notion of the Sisyphusian labour in respect to regenerating failed ideas of community. Running faster and faster towards inevitable collapse, progress becomes an illusion of all-time political rhetorics. The act of surrender is a vertigo around this fixed point.

The minimalistic set up of this theatre of the absurd invites the audience to invent new strategies of viewing; to engage with the presented scenario as an ongoing event that shifts and changes as the exhibition progresses. The space transforms into a site of continuous mental and physical activity, indicating retreat as a natural element of growth.

Wain Marriott and Rebecca Scofield

February 20th to February 23rd 2013

The audience are invited to venture and explore the environment that Wain Marriott and Rebecca Scofield have created. With the audience interaction the exhibition is in a constant state of change and work is discovered and rediscovered from various points across the floor. Perception and interpretation is in a constant revolve.

With a focus on notions of the temporary and of duration materials are played against each other across both practices exploring transitional features of a material.

Both practices are bound together through not only materiality but through an interaction that sits at opposite ends of the scale through their physicality. The precise nature of Wain Marriott’s practice sits against the frivolity of Rebecca Scofield’s. The luminosity of Rebecca’s bounces off the natural palette of Wain’s.

The interacting contrasts result in the creation of a narrative that the audience dictates through their movement and interaction with the work and space.

Paige Ockendon and Hannah Florence Cresswell

February 13th to February 16th 2013

Surface Gallery presents Process and Produce: Promotion. An exhibition and event collaboratively curated by Paige Ockendon and Hannah Florence Cresswell. An enquiry into commercial production and promotion takes place via a display of immersive video installation and performance. The private view presents the opportunity to see an exclusive event where the work is shifted back into its live format. Such actions will examine the sharing of convictions between artist and audience through performance and participation.

Mutual interest in demonstration and distribution results in both artists combining existing and new works which, in this new context, focus on the production and promotion of products: products that emulate the principles of fashionable ideologies and have been chosen for both their usability and vulgarity. A forceful approach to advertising, executed with a subtle mocking tone creates an atmosphere of humour whilst occasionally revealing glints of a more sinister realisation.

About

Surface Gallery is an independent, volunteer run, contemporary art
gallery based in Nottingham that exists to support the professional
development of early and mid-career artists, curators and people
wishing to work in the arts.

The Gallery is keen to facilitate experimental and innovative work,
encouraging artists to explore new avenues in their practice.

The Gallery is constituted as a cooperative and managed by a management
committee. Volunteers working at the Gallery are split into
sub-committees to manage different areas of the gallery including
Exhibitions, Press/Marketing, Finance, Fundraising, Education and
Management.

Support us

Donate to Surface Gallery and your invaluable support will help us to:
Deliver an inspiring exhibition programme
Support the development of aspiring artists and arts professionals
Refurbish the Gallery space and purchase new equipment